Providing knowledge of the satellite-killer electrons in near-Earth space using a near real-time data driven space weather model based on ULF-wave radial diffusion.
Although much is known, there are still many unanswered questions, particularly concerning the basic physical processes that determine the dynamics of the radiation belts. For example, two physical processes which have received a lot of attention are:
It is generally accepted that both of these processes play important roles in radiation belt dynamics, however their relative contributions are not well understood quantitatively. Recent work has shown that even when VLF local electron energization process are ignored, the transport of relativistic electrons from L=7 into the radiation belt region can be simulated by solving the radial diffusion equation with a relatively simple Kp-dependent electron loss term.